Thompson Hine LLP is proud to announce that its Dayton office has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Ohio Access to Justice Foundation Presidential Award. The award will be presented during the Council of Delegates Meeting at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium as part of the Ohio Bar Annual Meeting. This recognition celebrates Thompson Hine’s ongoing commitment to pro bono service and its outstanding efforts to improve access to justice for Ohioans.
Thompson Hine’s Dayton office was nominated for this honor by Summer Hawks, Executive Director of the Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project (GDVLP), in recognition of the firm’s long partnership and impactful service. “GDVLP and Thompson Hine’s Dayton office have a relationship stretching back decades. When GDVLP identifies legal needs in the community, it relies on partners like Thompson Hine to provide volunteer lawyers to help low-income Daytonians resolve their civil legal challenges,” Hawks said.
For more than a decade, Thompson Hine attorneys have volunteered at GDVLP’s bi-monthly landlord/tenant clinic, providing personalized legal counsel to up to four clients per session. These clinics empower clients to navigate often complex landlord-tenant issues, and the clinic serves an average of 100 clients annually. Approximately 12 Thompson Hine lawyers consistently volunteer for the clinic, with many serving for multiple years. In addition, the firm takes on between four and eight clients from the clinic each year for full representation, ensuring that those with the most complex needs receive comprehensive legal support. The current Thompson Hine landlord/tenant clinic team includes Bob Curry, Steve Davis, Justin Elkin, Gabriella Fletcher, Shelbie Harvey, Jason Heitz, Jamar King, Craig Looper, Diane MacLeod, Sean McCormick, Kelsey Mincheff, Jordan Savory and Zion Savory.
Hawks praised the firm’s dedication, stating, “The Thompson Hine attorneys deliver skilled legal guidance and demonstrate an unwavering dedication to service, embodying the highest ideals of the legal profession. Their work has significantly improved housing stability for low-income individuals and families, fostering greater community resilience and fairness.”
Thompson Hine partner Sean McCormick, the Dayton office chair of pro bono engagement, reflected on the award’s significance: “Being recognized with the Presidential Award means a lot to our lawyers who have donated dozens of hours over the last 12 years. Sometimes we might get lulled into a sense that everybody does pro bono work and that it isn’t that big a deal. But for GDVLP and the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation to come to us and say, no, this is a big deal, and we really appreciate what you’re doing – that means the world to us.”
Thompson Hine’s dedication to pro bono service extends far beyond a single office or initiative. The firm’s attorneys and staff are deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities where they live and work. Through ongoing partnerships with local organizations, regular participation in volunteer legal clinics, and a firmwide culture that encourages service, Thompson Hine strives to ensure that access to justice is not just an ideal, but a reality for all.